For
my 63rd Birthday in October my son, Edward, secretly arranged for me
to visit a P&O Liner at Southampton. He contacted the company informing
them that I was a former employee in Melbourne and was there any possibility
of my being able to go aboard for a visit, as a sort of birthday present.
The Director of P&O Cruises asked for details of who I had worked with
in Melbourne, when and how long etc.

The
Company agreed to his request and gave Edward the choice of two ships
to choose from, Oriana or Arcadia. This meant that he had to tell me
about his plan and I decided on Oriana. As a bonus the Captain had suggested
that we have lunch on board.

On
24th October Edward and I drove down to Southampton, me wearing my P&O
blazer and tie, and duly went aboard where we received VIP treatment.
We were shown around the ship by an Entertainments Officer, after which
we went into the Peninsular Restaurant for lunch. At the end of lunch
about ten stewards came up to me bearing a Birthday cake which was duly
presented, and then sang Happy Birthday’.

Not
only was it a great day but it meant a lot to me to be back on board
a big ship again, albeit only for a short while, it was also very pleasing
to know that, although 40 years since I left P&O, they could still treat
me as one of their own.

I
am extremely grateful to the Company, and Edward did an excellent job
and I am also very grateful to him for it. Edward, of course, had never
seen a ship of such size, so he was somewhat awestruck.

The
following three pages contain views of Oriana’s interior as photographed
by me at Southampton.

Michael
Byard Collection

The
magnificent Tiffany style glass dome
at the top of the Atrium

Cutting
my Birthday Cake in the
Peninsular Restaurant

Edward in the Peninsular Restaurant

Approaching
berth 107

Rising
Sun Crest of P and O

Oriana
alongside berth 107

Promenade
Deck with Lifeboats above

Companionway
to upper decks

Tiered
decks

Forward
Observation Lounge

Forward
Observation Lounge

Stern
Bar

Garden
Court on F Deck, the Reception
area near Pursers Office

In
traditional language this is
The Pursers Office

Water
Pool at bottom of the Atrium opposite in the Reception area

The
Atrium from Reception showing Queens Court and Royal Court

The
Atrium from Tiffany Court

In
describing these photographs I have used mainly traditional terms, being
a traditionalist in most things especially ships!